Methods Used to Evaluate the Health Effects of Social Policies: A Systematic Review

Despite the growth of research on social policies and health in recent years, few studies have systematically summarized the methodological approaches used in this growing literature. This review characterizes the range of and trends in analytic methods used in studies of the health effects of US social policies published in leading health journals during January 2014-July 2024.

Among the 117 studies reviewed, confounder-control approaches were the most commonly used method to assess health effects of social policies. Quasi-experimental methods were also frequently used, especially difference-in-differences designs. Heterogeneous subgroup effects were consistently assessed.

Although there was frequent use of quasi-experimental designs that meet standards for rigorous evidence used to inform policymaking, many opportunities for improvement remain. We suggest improvements to data infrastructure, highlight less frequently studied policies as fruitful future research opportunities, and encourage researchers to implement quasi-experimental approaches best suited to identify causal estimates.